Sofa-bed



(No Model.) 0. A. LINDNER.

SOFA BED.

No. 332,412. Patented Dec. 15. 1885".

M .dttarney WITNESSES N4 PETERS. Pbolo-Ulhogmpher. Wauhmgtnn. D C

PATENT CARL A. LINDNER, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

SOFA-BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 332,412, dated December15, 1885.

Application filed July 529, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CARL A. LINDNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of-Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSofa-Beds; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in sofa-bedsteads, and is designedto produce a device that may be used as a bed or compactly folded andform a neat and convenient sofa.

The improvement consists, essentially, in the employment, in connectionwith asuitable frame, of a receptacle beneath what may be termed thesofa-bottom, a hinged and normally-held back that may be placed on alevel with the sofa-bottom, in which case the receptacle beforementioned is moved a limited distance from under the bottom and supportsthe back, and fixed head and foot rests on the frame, each having ahinged section with a projecting portion, which, when the section isextended, rests on the back.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the device asa bed; Fig. 2, the same as a sofa; Fig. 3, a detail section of theback-retaining latch, and Fig. 4 a perspective view of the preferredform of hinge.

A suitable rectangular frame, A, is provided with legs B and strips 0,one near each end, on its under side. One or more bracing strips orslats, D, may be used. Normally resting on the floor is a box orreceptacle, E, of sufficient length to reach from one strip, 0, to theother. On the under side of one of thelongitudinal strips of the frameare lugs or stops F, projecting downward far enough to engage the sidesof the receptacle, whether it be moved from under the frame, guided bythe strips 0, or whether it be moved under the frame.

The back consists of a frame, G, similar to the frame A, and hinged tothe latter at or near the ends, as shown at H, the preferable form ofhinge, however, being shown in Fig. 4, in which instance the said hingeis placed Serial No. 172,886. (No model.)

coincident with the ends of the head and foot rests.

The hinge H, as particularly shown in Fig. 4, is of a peculiarconstruction and adapted for use on the lounge herein described. Thishinge is composed of two similar strips, which are twisted about midwayof their length and are pivotally connected together at one end, so asto have their adjacent portions for about half their length fold on oneanother and their remaining portions engage each other with their flatsides at a relative right angle to the inner portions. The outer ends ofthese strips are provided with perforations, and are designed to besecured by screws, one to the outer side of the rear longitudinal railof the section F, and the other to the inner longitudinal rail of thesection G.

The back is held in the upright position shown in Fig. 2 by catchesshown in Fig. 3. The strips G project beyond the frame A and areslotted, as at I. To the edge of the back is pivoted a notched strip, K,one at each end, which passes into the slot and normally ongages with apin or stop therein. By means of acord, L, from each strip K, passingaround the front edge of the timber of the back coincident with the bodyand through guiding eyes to the center of the back, as the mostconvenient point, where the two cords are joined, and provided with amanipulatingring, M, the said strips K may be disengaged from the stopsand the back lowered. \Vhen the back is lowered, the receptacle is firstpulled out and the back rested on it as a support, thus obviating theuse of legs on said back.

The head and foot rests each consist of a stationary frame, N, placedsomewhat on a slant, and provided with one end projecting above thelevel of said frame, and preferably of a somewhat elliptical form, asshown at O, the other end being bent at a level with the frame, as at P.To the inner end of the frame N is hinged so as to swing longitudinallya frame, R, of similar construction. This frame R is provided at eachend with a projection, S, conforming in appearance to the end 0, theprojection on the free end of said frame acting as a rest for said endwhen open, it engaging with the back, as shown in Fig. 1.

XVhen properly upholstered, the sofa forms an extremely simple yet neatornament, performing the functions of a sofa and bed with everyconvenience.

The necessary bed-clothing is placed in the tudinal section, the hingedsection being adapted to form the back of the sofa, and is provided withrackbars which engage cross pins in slots of rear extensions on the saidfixed section. One end of the hinged section is provided with a raisedblock, to support the hinged head-section when turned out, and thehead-fra1ne is hinged to the main body-section and provided with pawlsengaging racks, the said pawls having strings attached for releasingthem from the racks. I am also aware that lounges have been formed oftwo longitudinally-hinged sections adapted to fold upon each other, thefixed section at its opposite ends having semicylindrical portions, theupper faces of which are plain and the hinged section provided withsimilar portions, so that when the said devices are turned over onto thefixed section the said semi-cylindrical portions will form cylindricalhead rests, and therefore do not claim such devices or combination ofdevices, broadly.

I claim The improved sofa-bed herein described, consisting, essentially,of the main frame having the stops and guide-strips on its under side, areceptacle normally resting under the said frame, a back hinged to thesaid frame and adjustable as to the relative angle thereto, and head andfoot rests, each composed of a fixed section secured to the frame andhaving the outer end projecting upward, and a section hinged to the saidfixed section and provided at each end with an upward projection, andthe hinge H, composed of two similar strips twisted about midway oftheir length, so as to have their respective twisted portions engageeach other relatively at right angles with relation to the inner andouterends, all arranged to operate substantiallyas specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my*signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARL A. LINDNER'.

Witnesses:

FRANCIS A. DAY, E. V. GoDwIN.

